Log In

Montreal Council Picks First Anglophone Mayor in a Century

Montreal’s municipal council elected an Anglophone as the French-speaking city’s interim mayor–marking the first time in a century that the city will be led by an official whose first language is English.

Michael Applebaum won a poll among 63 voting members of the city council, who convened to elevate an interim mayor after Gerald Tremblay resigned from the post amid a provincial commission into alleged corruption.

A former aide alleged to the commission that Mr. Tremblay had turned a blind eye to corruption. Mr. Tremblay has denied knowledge of any corruption, but stepped down as mayor earlier this month.

Mr. Applebaum will serve as interim mayor until 2013, when the city holds municipal elections. He becomes the first English-speaking mayor since the 1910-12 term of James Guerin.

Most Montrealers speak French as their first language, but roughly a quarter of the city’s population is considered Anglophone. (While Mr. Applebaum’s first language is English, he also speaks French.)

About Canada Real Time

Canada Real Time provides insight and analysis into what’s making news in Canada, a country punching above its weight on the world stage thanks to its vast resources and strong banking sector. Drawing on the expertise of The Wall Street Journal and Dow Jones Newswires, we take a look at developments in fields ranging from business to politics to culture. You can contact the editors at canadaeditors@dowjones.com